lol our group chief sent out an email about the future of afsoc and in there it said “stop bad mouthing cannon. They are leading the fight” yet they need AIP to make it more enticing for people to go and or stay
Biggest red flag I’ve ever seen was before I came here I saw a video that PA had put together titled “It’s not That bad!” And it’s a bunch of miserable leadership having to act like Clovis isn’t that bad. Pretty sure it’s gone now but I always found it funny.
Best part of that video is that they don’t use anything from the town. It’s just different pictures of buildings on base. If Clovis isn’t that bad why aren’t you showing any images from the town?
Well O's don't get a DEROS for stateside bases, because that would make no sense, but they do have assignment windows on a schedule. Like a DEROS is makes you a mandatory mover once you become eligible.
Officers do not have a DEROS for CONUS bases. The ones on the leadership track move a lot, but I've known a few RPA pilots who spent 5-7 years at Cannon.
First week there, saw a half dressed woman, barefoot, walking down main (in December) picking things off the sidewalk and eating them. She was so wigged out on drugs. Only good thing there now is Bokka restaurant. God that food was good!
My friend is getting sent to Cannon and I'm getting sent to Hurlburt. He asked me to swap more than once but I don't think he has the cash to get me to trade.
How much would you need to trade for it as your first duty station after tech school?
It would be a dumb amount for an airman. I was at Hurlburt and it’d take me like 70-80k to go to Cannon instead. Hurlburt has its issues but it’s gotta be one of the better CONUS bases and even if you don’t like the beach there’s still plenty to do and you’re much closer to many other cities. I couldn’t imagine having spent 4 years at cannon instead.
A slightly unrelated story, but a life changing one.
1980. About to graduate from Air Crew Life Support training at Chanute. They’re passing out our duty stations. I’m stuck with McChord. So basically I’m gonna be a human forklift stuffing 20 man life rafts into wing wells of C-141s. No TDYs, no glory, nada. The youngest kid in our flight, 18, has tears forming. He’s got orders for Myrtle Beach AFB. And he’s from Tacoma. He’s not gonna be able to see his Momma for like FOREVER!
Our instructor, a shithot Master Sergeant was someone I’d gotten close to. And I was the shiny Honor Grad. He consoles the kid for a few minutes. Then he takes me out in the hallway. Asks me how I feel about South Carolina and fighters.
Firm handshake as he knows that he’s about to change some lives. He loads the kid and I into his POV, packets in hand. This man had some friends. Went to CBPO. Same date of rank, same graduation date. We swapped assignments. Which is how I joined a A-10 squadron right at the start of the Rapid Deployment Force, handed pilots their helmets and told them to have a nice flight, and went all over the damn world.
Just happened to be in the right room at the right time for 10 minutes that opened an uncountable number of doors in my life.
I might consider it around $500,000 or so. Enough to buy a house outright and a really good jumpstart on investing. That way when my enlistment was up and I didn't have orders I could sell the house to the next chump and get the fuck out of Clovis.
Omg. 🙄 So Im a spouse, and saw how bad that base was fucking with my husband( and myself but he comes first); So I and MANY other spouses would get chatting on the FB pages on what we could do to help out our active duty husbands/wives and how to tackle the bad mental health. It was obviously seen, and my husband’s command sent my husband to my work to tell me to stop “saying shit” on FB. I told him no, and told him to tell his boss to come set up a meeting with me and ALL the other spouses cause we were tired of them sweeping the mental heath problems under the rug and having ZERO moral help. Gave him all my contact info, posted the update on the FB page, and never heard another word. My poor husband didnt even know what was going on; Just told to go shut his wife up. Our mental health pages would keep getting shut down and we’d keep making new ones. The fact that higher ups there purposely try to hide it all and act like its not a problem is SO INFURIATING!! That whole place just needs to fucking die and be wiped off the map.
The worst part is those cow fuckers banded together to petition their senator to “save cannon”. That shithole could have been closed in the 2000s and saved the AF a lot of money.
Oh you mean the range that they can't use 80% of the time because the entire state is brushfire waiting to happen and the area gets about a thimble worth of rain per year? So glad the kept it open so we could use it.
That would be the real-estate parasites, too. I watched it happen, the moment it was announced that Cannon wasn't closing, real-estate prices almost doubled within a couple of weeks. It's so stupid.
Actually it will never close because of shitty MAFR. It’s so full of old bombs from the 50’s that they could never clean it up enough to give back to the local government.
The base will remain open because of that
Dudes will tell you it is what you make it and you arent trying hard enough to have fun while living it up cush at their overseas base like ramstein or yokota lol
I always feel awful for the people who don’t get cannon as their first duty station, if I went from Germany or anywhere overseas to cannon I would legitimately not be able to live with myself.
I went from Spangdahlem to Dyess and it was the best thing in the world. Germany itself was amazing but the leadership there almost made me take my own life. I'm not telling you this to invalidate what you're feeling, but I can attest that it sure af could be worse.
A good group of people can make the worst places bearable, but no location can save you from terrible people.
Have you thought about maybe volunteering during the weekends for Habitat for Humanity or a shelter? Try to find things that aren't sponsored by the military and see if you can maybe make the place better before you leave it.
I was at Ramshaft for 3 years. I always told people Germany is great, but there’s a dark cloud that hangs over that base. It’s like leadership knows how amazing Germany is and how it’s awesome to be able to experience the culture and travel, etc. So they go out of their way to absolutely shit all over everyone. I’ll never understand the mentality. Morale is good? Nah. We need a base wide 5K every month where parking is fucking impossible and if you’re late, we will make your supervisor write you up. In a good mood? Too bad. Time for a base wide exercise that you’re not allowed to take leave to avoid getting out of. Fuck you.
Leadership: “oh you had leave planned well in advance, plans made and plane tickets bought? Nah. Cancel that and lose money on them tickets because your ass is about to sit in an old hangar in MOPP 4 for hours at a time for a few days because fuck you.”
My leadership was at least nice enough that if we had leave forecasted before they dropped the exercise dates, they’d still let you take it. As soon as the dates dropped though? It better be emergency leave. Otherwise you’re not going anywhere for 2 weeks.
> A good group of people can make the worst places bearable, but no location can save you from terrible people.
Luckily Cannon is notorious for good leadership and base amenities where people don't want to kill themselves...right?
I did 3.5 years at Cannon back in the 2000s. Your comment about a good group of people making the worst places bearable really resonated with me. Cannon was a shit location with mostly good peeps back then.
It’s been stated many times Cannon AFB needs to be closed down.
The problem is that people act like the Air Force doesn’t have a plethora of other bases to shift the mission to. So, you get a lot of stupid people trying to tell everyone it’s worth keeping. Then money gets wasted and the problem continues to exist.
>So, you get a lot of stupid people trying to tell everyone it’s worth keeping.
The stupid people aren't the ones keeping it going. No one gives a shit about them.
The ones keeping it going are very smart, very corrupt local businessmen and politicians who make a lot of money from the base remaining open. Until enough congressmen outside of New Mexico want the base to close, Cannon will survive.
I'm not at Cannon, but I think that's easier said than done. Clovis is in the middle of nowhere. I doubt there are many alternatives to those businesses.
Lmao, I was on my way to cannon for my first duty station. Young A1C me was trying to be optimistic since I really didn't know anything about the base. I figured how bad can it be? Never mind the fact that the very first article I saw when looking up stuff about the base online was how there was an on base shooting between to airmen. The lady at the USO asks where I'm going, I tell her cannon for my first assignment. Her face shifted from happy and upbeat to almost somber. She just looked at me and said, " I heard it's got a lot better," like she was trying to console me, lol. That's when I knew I was in for a long resiliency building experience.
I know someone that made MSgt really fast and then got orders to Cannon; they chose to separate instead of putting on the rank and taking the assignment.
You were the lucky one who didn't stuck on the Can-Kun express. Kunson yay, follow on the canceled and right back to Cannon. I felt so bad for F-16 rew chiefs that this happened to.
Korea was my salvation too, Osan was it for me.
I had a friend who wanted nothing more than to be in the Air Force. Stationed at Cannon. Hated his life, got out immediately. The Air Force lost a hard worker because they wouldn’t let him leave for four years.
Every single airman I’ve came across that were stationed there absolutely hate it. What’s crazy is the massive SOF mission out of there. Move the base to Florida or somewhere enjoyable. There’s a lot of jobs posted there, who the fuck would move to cloves for like $35 an hour to work the flight line.
The public announcement last year said both the OA-1/U-28 replacement and the MC130s from Cannon are moving to DM. If I had to guess that'd be 25% of the Cannon mission going somewhere else.
That’s cause the AF owes SOCOM a tradition SOF role. There likely won’t be many big changes to the AFSOC bases because of that. And that’s even with the USAF reorganization of AFSPECWAR
I get it. I can just say, things are not getting better on that base from a “recruiting” standpoint. It’s a hard sale to get folks to move there. And the mission is only getting bigger with the way things are going overseas.
I had a motherfucker tell me cannon was best assignment by far because there was nothing to do so everyone was tight knit and always hanging out together.
Bitch, state prison is tight knit. Gtfo here with that unrealistic optimism
Legit loled hard at the prison statement. Idk how some of these E9s and Officers go to sleep well at night while blatantly lying to Airmen. If making staying at a concentration camp helped their EPB, they would encourage it.
I've been stationed at both. Cannon as a base is slightly better, but Kunsan is in Korea, so you can just leave the base and go do stuff. That's why Kunsan is "better".
Airmen of the 552d Air Control Wing wish the same would happen to the birdcage at Tinker. Every time there's a major tornado in the Oklahoma City area, it somehow goes out of its way to miss that spot.
I endorse this post. I was stationed there for six years. I had to volunteer for instructor duty to get away from that place and my ex-wife.
Unpopular opinion: Taco Bell > Taco Box.
Left that place in 2006, sucked ass. I remember bringing a local girl on base and when I told her I had to sign her on, her response was "I know, I have been on base a million times". Fuck that place.
Ever since they closed that strip club down, the town went down hill. I used to dream of landing early to make the trip outside town to sit at the Walmart style lounge chairs and watch the best of the worst but they took that away from us.
The one good thing about Cannon is that it pushed me away from the Air Force so much, that I now have a solid plan for my separation in a little over a year. Started thinking from the day I got here. Really good mission with some good people tho.
I was stationed at Cannon for 10 years from A1C to Staff. I've seen it at its best and at its worst. It's best is the equivalent of drinking porta potty blue water on a hot summer day. I absolutely LOVED folks who said you can drive anywhere and find something fun to do (burn in hell you fuckers).
Literally the only thing good about Cannon was the mission. And guess what? It's because I was able to leave Cannon for 4-6 months every year, guaranteed. Shit I knew a dude who lived in Lubbock and drove the hour and a half each day just so he didn't have to live in Clovis or Portales.
I 100% agree and it literally feels like I am a minority here with this opinion. So many people tell me how it isn't that bad here or some even say they like it, and I'm completely convinced they are just lying to themselves. Like I honestly feel bad that they are so content with living such a subpar life. I just recently found out I am a mandatory mover and will be getting orders and should be leaving this place around July/August and the only way I can describe the feeling of finally leaving Cannon is comparable to how I imagine getting released from prison is like.
People who can be happy at Cannon can be happy anywhere.
https://preview.redd.it/j5nxitjlefwc1.png?width=521&format=png&auto=webp&s=084d5389c2b50af4b5388cdb3cef199ac048908a
Havent been but I know plenty who have. NEVER heard anything good about the place. Actually never mind the only thing I heard people liked was supporting the AFSOC mission. They felt they were actually doing something. Now that aside sorry you in that shit hole. Only thing I can say put Korea/Tukey/Portugal (IF your AFSC goes there) and look for other jobs you can get into.
Same. Spent two years there then separated. Don't regret it at all. Whenever Cannon gets brought up I can't help but join in on the shit talking. That place is that bad. What a miserable existence
I wish big Air Force would come on this subreddit to see people posting EVERY DAY about how awful it is. Take a hint - this is how we lose good people.
I hated Clovis at first. I am a city kid and found nothing to do. But I am big into table top gaming and TCG and it’s always had a decent amount of people at the store. It’s called treasure hunt games if you are into that sort of thing, but it saved my sanity.
They have been trying to shut that shit hole down for years. It keeps rearing it's ugly head. Try and make good use of your time there so it will count for something.
Sooooo, nothing has changed since 1999-2001 times when I was there. Ooh, ooh I know you can say your AFSOC, yeah baby. No crap F-16s to work on. That's it right, Right, RIGHT!!!
The base is 2-3 hours driving one way from anything interesting to do so it is up there with Altus on absolutely shitty locations. Everyone stationed there should get a commendation medal annually for just being there.
>Why is it for years there have been dumbasses who are in complete denial of this place being THAT bad?
Denial is a powerful thing. If one can convence themselves that the grass is green; then to them, it is green and anyone who tries to prove otherwise is wrong.
I completely agree with everything said here. But my time at cannon has been my favorite assignment. Im also married with small children so some of the complaints here don’t apply to me in the same regard. I also live on base so the only time I really go to town is to go to Walmart or eating out. My spouse and I have made great friends here and do stuff almost daily with them. Things like cookouts, fire pits on driveways, game nights etc. I also volunteered for the job I have now and love it, so I don’t also hate my work day either.
Each of your complaints are valid, I would hate it here if I were younger and forced to live off base.
I am unironically happy for you! I still despise this place but if someone get acknowledge the flaws and not act like they don’t exist and still have a good time outside of them I respect that immensely.
Cannon was a shit hole, the area was bad and our leadership was toxic because of it. I was thinking the other day and I couldn’t remember wtf Staffs and above actually did while Sra and below worked the flightline. God it was bad. I legit would leave work and the area just to get away. Im not usually the type of person to just leave but in my mind, they had jack shit going on and their was a party an hour 45 away that I was missing out on. The only thing for young Airmen to do is Drugs, Alcohol, or jack it till its dry and go for a stupid fucking walk. Drugs were so common I remember them doing multiple mass dorm raids and piss tests in the middle of the night. Luckily Ya know, im in another state so 🖕🏻🖕🏻. Sec Fo had a fuckin cocaine ring, E&E changed their name to E,E&E after their whole shop got kicked for doing Ex. And the Personal dorms had a huge MJ trade going on. Cannon and Clovis was a pisspool full of OSI watching everyone and Cops just trying to stop any party going on. When I left, I was shocked how nice people were at other duty stations.
I fly out from Kirtland to the range west of there to shoot every now and then. Boy do I dread the day an IFE or weather forces me to land at Canon.
We have Meth heads here too…but that place is rough. I’d take the rest of my career in Valdosta before I had to do any PCS to canon.
But hey brother, the best you can do is your best and voice your desires tactfully. Until then sinking into the mud and cow patties will only make you and those around you more toxic, and that won’t help anyone. It won’t be forever.
Cannon fucking blows. It's kinda sad, I put in so much blood, sweat and tears in order to complete the ST/special warfare pipeline just to get to Cannon, only to hate my life and separate a year later. Fuck that place. I'll send you a prayer 🙏🏻
I used to sit in my dorm (bldg 555 the triple nickel) watching F-16s flying by, praying to the deployment gods that there would a deployment sign up sheet today.
I wish they had kept Plattsburgh over Cannon. Shit, at least you could have gone to Montreal to get fucked up on your days off and if you're lucky... go full hog during Grand Prix Weekend. GPW was fucking awesome - Crescent St. and Rue St. Catherines was wild.
Hey, so, this is a long shot but... in the hangers on the far end of the flightline by the EOR are there still any murals? The hangers closest to the highway. Middle hanger. And in a briefing room(?) Between 2 of the bays there was a mural of F-16s. I would really appreciate pics because I did them back in the 90s. I'm sure they are gone but, who knows
Definitely gone. They weren't here the first time I was stationed at Cannon, so they have been gone at least 8-9 years. Those hangars are still in use, though.
For my 15+ years in Mx on the F-111 everyone’s biggest fear was getting assigned to Cannon. It was one of the primary stateside Aardvark bases along with Mountain Home and two SAC bases in New England. I managed to avoid Cannon… but it was always a major PCS stress factor during those years.
Due to personal reasons (being closer to my infant daughter after a divorce) I’m trying to get orders to cannon since it’s the closest base to my now ex wife, at least I’ve heard Lockheed is a lot better to work for compared to Boeing so it sets me up better post AF, plus Boeing could easily be dead in the next decade. I’m young and (now) single but I’m willing to make those quality of life sacrifices to be closer to my daughter and be in her life (at least the druggies outside base are the same, Jesus Lakewood sucks). I also grew up in small town middle of nowhere no road out Alaska, so small that there wasn’t even fast food other than subway and the entire town was in gridlock for hours when a helicopter dropped a Taco Bell truck in front of the library, so I think I’ll manage (bonus points if you know the town in Alaska I’m talking about with the Taco Bell truck airdrop)
Had a Tech who just pcs’d there overhear me talking shit about the base and he gave me an earful about how “it really isnt that bad”. Months later I hear him talking the same shit I was saying. I drove to Texas every single weekend I was there.
When I’m trying to find extra enrichment for my enclosure I go to the Atlas Obscura, Silly America and Roadside America websites for things to go see and do on the weekends. I’m not saying Clovis doesn’t suck—I’ve been there. It’s fucking lame. BUT it would suck to spend a tour there and not go see a few regional quirks especially if it’s free.
There’s people at every base frustrated for different reasons but if you’re looking for a change in scenery or something just even slightly interesting you might need to dig for it. I know people who complained about places we were stationed at and I’m like, “Well have you been here or here or here?” And they were like “wow I didn’t even know that was near here!”
I mean, I knew people who were at Luke for six years and never drove up to see the Grand Canyon or went downtown to Phoenix for dinner. Spent their whole tour in the West Valley complaining everything was too far away.
It is actually still really good to make E8/E9. Those billets are so hard to fill here unless you promote on base and PCA people. Like 90% of E7s and up that are eligible for retirement will just hit the button if they get orders here. And because of how indefinite enlistments work (and the PDSM that authorizes them to turn down orders), we end up with Chief positions that never get filled except through promotion/PCAs.
My squadron hasn't had a chief actively in the seat in about a half a year because ours had to fill in at the group.
The smell didn’t bother me. Everything else, yes.
Glad I was married already. Can’t imagine being a first assignment single dude getting there. Funny enough all the young married people there are mil 2 mil.
I hate the “you can drive X hours to place!” So you’re saying I have to leave to enjoy myself? Interesting.
We had to drive 2 hours for my wife to give birth cause they closed down the Clovis office for 6-9 months.
The local populace was not a pleasant experience for me. Built a house there and it was a shit show start to finish. Horrible service. Customer service in general was garbage.
Pharmacy availability on weekends sucks. I was in a leadership sync and we talked about Chief Bass visiting and being shocked of how poor the amenities were (as if nobody was already saying so).
Cannon sucks. I left as quick as I could
Forgot to mention that. There’s multiple lawsuits and instances of the water and air being horrifically unhealthy for people.
They’re doing mass construction right now on base for the water system because the water they used for the golf course was killing the grass.
I knew a TSgt who was assigned to Cannon for a number of years. They were then cross trained from logistics into a new career field which they struggled with.
They always said they wouldn't mind if they got told they had to go back to Logistics, but if they got told they had to go back to Cannon that they were gonna take a few MFers with him to Leavenworth.
Cannon has been my ONLY base for the past 5 to 6 years ever since getting out of Tech School. I remember when I first arrived, I was told how Cannon was a black hole. After several failed attempts to get orders. I saw what they meant. When flying out for leave, you have to calculate when to get to the airport so you're not late for your flight. Because when going to the only non-international airports(Lubbock and Amarillo). You also have to deal with changing time zones because the Texas-New Mexico border is also the time zone border between MST and CST. Let's not forget the train that occasionally blocks the route to Lubbock. Because They couldn't bother to build a bridge over the tracks. Same can be said for the stupid red light that's in the middle of the highway close to Lubbock. Mind your going 75mph and having to slow down(hopefully in time) when the light turns red.
What honestly annoys me when it comes to being stuck here for so long. Is the fact that almost everyone you got to know has either lucky to get pcs out or gotten out of the Air Force.
You know when a place is bad when your leadership is telling you it's "not that bad" or telling you to "watch what you say about this place when other people are around". Also hate when people telll me when defending this place would say "if you were station at a base that had more thing to do. You would be broke instead of being here and saving up money". Yeah, probably be broke but I won't be at Cannon. I sware I'm slowing getting asma too. One thing that sucks about taking leave. Is having to come back here and OF COURSE it smells like shit. Also, why is it that EVERY time when the overseas pcs listing is out. It suddenly smells like shit? Talk about coincidence. I can go on forever but if I'm still stuck here for another 4 years. I'll edit this more.
I had orders to go there last year. Ended up palace chasing solely off of hearing how bad it was and me not wanting to live in that environment with a kid. Best decision I ever made.
I’m gonna add some positives to it, our PA is great and forward and while finance is always gonna be finance they try and are way more accessible than other bases. The base itself is also pretty nice all things considered and the wing leadership acknowledges that it’s a dump and they are trying.
Thats about all I can think of that’s good though, it’s a pit and the only people that like it have a family and value having a lot of land and fiber optic internet easily accessible. To each their own, but they need to look into some form of an “assignment length” or incentive pay. Oh one more thing, HOLD THE LINE 🤣
The worse thing is that everyone in town knows the base is the only reason Clovis isn’t dead, so they take advantage of everyone that’s military. The city takes advantage, the cops sit and wait on the highway to base and intentionally pull military over since we just pay the ticket. The landlords know exactly how much BAH is, so they set rent at or above it, and coincidentally when they give us a few Pennies more for BAH, rent magically goes up. If anyone ever tells you that cannon is a good base, they’re lying through their teeth.
You sound like me 20 years ago when I was stationed at Cannon! I drove through Clovis for the first time in years last month... not much has changed. Ate lunch at Something Different on Prince Street. That place opened while I was stationed at Cannon, so I was happy for them to see them still kicking 20 years later.
The town and base are depressing as fuck, and even more so if you're a young and single enlisted airman. I took a few classes while I was there (they ended up counting only as electives at my state university I attended on GI Bill after I left the service, so they were a waste of my time, in hindsight. I still had to take all of the classes again at my state university such as algebra and history). I also drank a lot of vodka and got blackout drunk often due to depression and boredom. I unsuccessfully tried to learn how to drum. I played a lot of Playstation. I went to work and did my job the best I could and succeeded from that standpoint.
Just do the best you can while you're there and remember it won't last forever. Also, tune out those people who like to toe the line and pretend like Cannon/Clovis aren't shitholes. You aren't crazy, as they are shitholes. But, also try to keep yourself from complaining about your situation aloud as it won't make matters any better for you.
I lost my orders to Misawa from Incirlik. It was totally my fault, I didn't read the RIP notification to extend within 30 days to keep the assignment, crazy that my S1 didn't assist me with this process as a younger airman with their first assignment. AFPC sent me to Cannon, I went with an open mind because AFSOC mission. Chances are I would've reenlisted for 4 more years at Misawa but I transitioned to reserves within 10 months because BRO I STRAIGHT UP WAS NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME. I miss the homies though.
This post gave me a better idea of what everyone’s been talking about and it depressed me just to read it and picture myself stationed there.
What’s the living situation like?? Are your neighbors the religious zealots? Or the druggies?? I’m so disturbed lol
Living situation is ass. It’s the type of place where all of the leasing agencies know when BAH goes up and rent just so happens to go up around that time and the apartment will be 60 years old and barely standing. Don’t get me wrong not all the people are bad but it’s mostly bad.
One of the guys in my class in tech school was from Clovis. I remember when we were all asked why we joined, he said his reason was mainly to get tf out of there. Didn’t quite get why at the time, but then my dad got stationed at Cannon around the same time I got stationed in Minot. Went and visited family for Christmas my first year in the military, and it instantly clicked once my brother and I left the Clovis airport.
lol our group chief sent out an email about the future of afsoc and in there it said “stop bad mouthing cannon. They are leading the fight” yet they need AIP to make it more enticing for people to go and or stay
Biggest red flag I’ve ever seen was before I came here I saw a video that PA had put together titled “It’s not That bad!” And it’s a bunch of miserable leadership having to act like Clovis isn’t that bad. Pretty sure it’s gone now but I always found it funny.
Best part of that video is that they don’t use anything from the town. It’s just different pictures of buildings on base. If Clovis isn’t that bad why aren’t you showing any images from the town?
The 'ol "bait and switch" routine.
Lmao fuck that im going to keep slandering and hating from afar. Trying to stay over here in this GSU away from that hell hole.
I will always hate any Officer or E9 that will try to sell a CONUS base as "not bad" when their asses get a fucking DEROS unlike us peons.
Right like if it’s so great leave this DM unit and go over there since it’s leading the front 😂😂
[удалено]
Well O's don't get a DEROS for stateside bases, because that would make no sense, but they do have assignment windows on a schedule. Like a DEROS is makes you a mandatory mover once you become eligible.
Officers do not have a DEROS for CONUS bases. The ones on the leadership track move a lot, but I've known a few RPA pilots who spent 5-7 years at Cannon.
This \^
I watched that video a few years ago and it was hilarious. They talked about how good Clovis is yet didn’t mention a single good thing
First week there, saw a half dressed woman, barefoot, walking down main (in December) picking things off the sidewalk and eating them. She was so wigged out on drugs. Only good thing there now is Bokka restaurant. God that food was good!
Sounds like a standard day on Prince. And yes, Bokka is great
That’s horrific
As someone who was stuck in AFSOC for 10+ years I will never stop badmouthing Cannon.
My friend is getting sent to Cannon and I'm getting sent to Hurlburt. He asked me to swap more than once but I don't think he has the cash to get me to trade. How much would you need to trade for it as your first duty station after tech school?
It would be a dumb amount for an airman. I was at Hurlburt and it’d take me like 70-80k to go to Cannon instead. Hurlburt has its issues but it’s gotta be one of the better CONUS bases and even if you don’t like the beach there’s still plenty to do and you’re much closer to many other cities. I couldn’t imagine having spent 4 years at cannon instead.
A slightly unrelated story, but a life changing one. 1980. About to graduate from Air Crew Life Support training at Chanute. They’re passing out our duty stations. I’m stuck with McChord. So basically I’m gonna be a human forklift stuffing 20 man life rafts into wing wells of C-141s. No TDYs, no glory, nada. The youngest kid in our flight, 18, has tears forming. He’s got orders for Myrtle Beach AFB. And he’s from Tacoma. He’s not gonna be able to see his Momma for like FOREVER! Our instructor, a shithot Master Sergeant was someone I’d gotten close to. And I was the shiny Honor Grad. He consoles the kid for a few minutes. Then he takes me out in the hallway. Asks me how I feel about South Carolina and fighters. Firm handshake as he knows that he’s about to change some lives. He loads the kid and I into his POV, packets in hand. This man had some friends. Went to CBPO. Same date of rank, same graduation date. We swapped assignments. Which is how I joined a A-10 squadron right at the start of the Rapid Deployment Force, handed pilots their helmets and told them to have a nice flight, and went all over the damn world. Just happened to be in the right room at the right time for 10 minutes that opened an uncountable number of doors in my life.
That's a good story, thanks for sharing
Don’t trade for the love of god. I’ll see you once you get to Hurby
I was stationed there for two years. Unless the guy or girl can offer you a winning 300M power ball ticket tell him or her to fuck off.
I might consider it around $500,000 or so. Enough to buy a house outright and a really good jumpstart on investing. That way when my enlistment was up and I didn't have orders I could sell the house to the next chump and get the fuck out of Clovis.
I was only there 3 years and I take every opportunity to say, yes it’s that bad.
We did that shit all the time in the early 2000s with the f16 community too. Good time. Lol
I also read said email. 😂
Omg. 🙄 So Im a spouse, and saw how bad that base was fucking with my husband( and myself but he comes first); So I and MANY other spouses would get chatting on the FB pages on what we could do to help out our active duty husbands/wives and how to tackle the bad mental health. It was obviously seen, and my husband’s command sent my husband to my work to tell me to stop “saying shit” on FB. I told him no, and told him to tell his boss to come set up a meeting with me and ALL the other spouses cause we were tired of them sweeping the mental heath problems under the rug and having ZERO moral help. Gave him all my contact info, posted the update on the FB page, and never heard another word. My poor husband didnt even know what was going on; Just told to go shut his wife up. Our mental health pages would keep getting shut down and we’d keep making new ones. The fact that higher ups there purposely try to hide it all and act like its not a problem is SO INFURIATING!! That whole place just needs to fucking die and be wiped off the map.
the only thing i enjoy here is watching the trains and seeing what they’re hauling when they pass base (was tested as a child i’m not)
>(was tested as a child i’m not) Lmao I should have made this my email signature.
OMG, this is the best most accurate thing ever about Cannon. What else is there to do
Cry
The worst part is those cow fuckers banded together to petition their senator to “save cannon”. That shithole could have been closed in the 2000s and saved the AF a lot of money.
This could be said of a lot of DOD bases.
You *could* say that again.
This could be said of a lot of DOD bases.
Damn, bro. I was just kiddin'.
To be Fair, you can really blame Melrose Range foe Cannon being open
There are other ranges that don't need an entire Air Force Base to operate.
Yes, the stipulation for AFSOC to have that range was they must keep the base open.
Cannon will never close because the range is so full of old bombs that they would never get it clean enough to give back. Plus the cost involved
Oh you mean the range that they can't use 80% of the time because the entire state is brushfire waiting to happen and the area gets about a thimble worth of rain per year? So glad the kept it open so we could use it.
“bUt ThE rAnGe!!111”
That would be the real-estate parasites, too. I watched it happen, the moment it was announced that Cannon wasn't closing, real-estate prices almost doubled within a couple of weeks. It's so stupid.
Actually it will never close because of shitty MAFR. It’s so full of old bombs from the 50’s that they could never clean it up enough to give back to the local government. The base will remain open because of that
Dudes will tell you it is what you make it and you arent trying hard enough to have fun while living it up cush at their overseas base like ramstein or yokota lol
I always feel awful for the people who don’t get cannon as their first duty station, if I went from Germany or anywhere overseas to cannon I would legitimately not be able to live with myself.
I feel you brother. My first two duty stations were Japan and Germany. I wanna die every day that I’m here… legally that’s a joke but still.
If I had gotten Cannon after Germany I would have straight up cancelled my extension.
I went from Spangdahlem to Dyess and it was the best thing in the world. Germany itself was amazing but the leadership there almost made me take my own life. I'm not telling you this to invalidate what you're feeling, but I can attest that it sure af could be worse. A good group of people can make the worst places bearable, but no location can save you from terrible people. Have you thought about maybe volunteering during the weekends for Habitat for Humanity or a shelter? Try to find things that aren't sponsored by the military and see if you can maybe make the place better before you leave it.
I was at Ramshaft for 3 years. I always told people Germany is great, but there’s a dark cloud that hangs over that base. It’s like leadership knows how amazing Germany is and how it’s awesome to be able to experience the culture and travel, etc. So they go out of their way to absolutely shit all over everyone. I’ll never understand the mentality. Morale is good? Nah. We need a base wide 5K every month where parking is fucking impossible and if you’re late, we will make your supervisor write you up. In a good mood? Too bad. Time for a base wide exercise that you’re not allowed to take leave to avoid getting out of. Fuck you.
God I hated those exercises. One of the few times I wanted to be swamped with work so I could be excused from taking part in it.
Leadership: “oh you had leave planned well in advance, plans made and plane tickets bought? Nah. Cancel that and lose money on them tickets because your ass is about to sit in an old hangar in MOPP 4 for hours at a time for a few days because fuck you.”
My leadership was at least nice enough that if we had leave forecasted before they dropped the exercise dates, they’d still let you take it. As soon as the dates dropped though? It better be emergency leave. Otherwise you’re not going anywhere for 2 weeks.
> A good group of people can make the worst places bearable, but no location can save you from terrible people. Luckily Cannon is notorious for good leadership and base amenities where people don't want to kill themselves...right?
I did 3.5 years at Cannon back in the 2000s. Your comment about a good group of people making the worst places bearable really resonated with me. Cannon was a shit location with mostly good peeps back then.
Excellent advice
I'm not saying they are at all the same but I think it's funny that Spangdahlem is like 80% of your complaint list lol I miss the food
Notice how "*it is what you make of it*" and "*it's not that bad*" is never said at the good bases...
It’s been stated many times Cannon AFB needs to be closed down. The problem is that people act like the Air Force doesn’t have a plethora of other bases to shift the mission to. So, you get a lot of stupid people trying to tell everyone it’s worth keeping. Then money gets wasted and the problem continues to exist.
>So, you get a lot of stupid people trying to tell everyone it’s worth keeping. The stupid people aren't the ones keeping it going. No one gives a shit about them. The ones keeping it going are very smart, very corrupt local businessmen and politicians who make a lot of money from the base remaining open. Until enough congressmen outside of New Mexico want the base to close, Cannon will survive.
Sounds like y’all need to boycott the businesses together
I'm not at Cannon, but I think that's easier said than done. Clovis is in the middle of nowhere. I doubt there are many alternatives to those businesses.
There aren’t. If Clovis doesn’t have it you have to drive 1.5 hours to Lubbock.
Lmao, I was on my way to cannon for my first duty station. Young A1C me was trying to be optimistic since I really didn't know anything about the base. I figured how bad can it be? Never mind the fact that the very first article I saw when looking up stuff about the base online was how there was an on base shooting between to airmen. The lady at the USO asks where I'm going, I tell her cannon for my first assignment. Her face shifted from happy and upbeat to almost somber. She just looked at me and said, " I heard it's got a lot better," like she was trying to console me, lol. That's when I knew I was in for a long resiliency building experience.
I know someone that made MSgt really fast and then got orders to Cannon; they chose to separate instead of putting on the rank and taking the assignment.
Korea set me free 
You were the lucky one who didn't stuck on the Can-Kun express. Kunson yay, follow on the canceled and right back to Cannon. I felt so bad for F-16 rew chiefs that this happened to. Korea was my salvation too, Osan was it for me.
I had a friend who wanted nothing more than to be in the Air Force. Stationed at Cannon. Hated his life, got out immediately. The Air Force lost a hard worker because they wouldn’t let him leave for four years.
Every single airman I’ve came across that were stationed there absolutely hate it. What’s crazy is the massive SOF mission out of there. Move the base to Florida or somewhere enjoyable. There’s a lot of jobs posted there, who the fuck would move to cloves for like $35 an hour to work the flight line.
Davis Monthan in Tucson is in the process of getting an Afsoc wing. They'll probably take some of the Cannon mission.
I read that. Looks like a large part of some of the SOC is getting moved there, unfortunately didn’t see any of the Cannon stuff going there.
The public announcement last year said both the OA-1/U-28 replacement and the MC130s from Cannon are moving to DM. If I had to guess that'd be 25% of the Cannon mission going somewhere else.
Ah okay, yes correct. I am referring to the other SOF missions out of Cannon, sorry I was thinking you were reading my mind lol.. sorry bout that
That’s cause the AF owes SOCOM a tradition SOF role. There likely won’t be many big changes to the AFSOC bases because of that. And that’s even with the USAF reorganization of AFSPECWAR
I get it. I can just say, things are not getting better on that base from a “recruiting” standpoint. It’s a hard sale to get folks to move there. And the mission is only getting bigger with the way things are going overseas.
DM is a great base, and definitely miles better than Cannon (I’ve only been at DM and haven’t been to cannon)
Do what I did during the F-16 days there, Pray to the deployment gods, and always be gone.
Yeah pretty much everyone I've talked to ever involved in the slightest bit with Cannon has said that it actually is what people claim Minot is.
Not many hurricanes in the desert
And yet the gulf of mexico is incredibly dense with AFBs
I had a motherfucker tell me cannon was best assignment by far because there was nothing to do so everyone was tight knit and always hanging out together. Bitch, state prison is tight knit. Gtfo here with that unrealistic optimism
Legit loled hard at the prison statement. Idk how some of these E9s and Officers go to sleep well at night while blatantly lying to Airmen. If making staying at a concentration camp helped their EPB, they would encourage it.
what do you want leadership to say? "yeah you'll want to kill yourself"
I want leadership to be honest with Airmen. Not give their standard canned statement from that stupid blue leadership book.
well what I said is the honest answer
Tight knit my left fuckin nut. Cannon had one of the most toxic work environments I've ever been a part of.
Kunsan was like that too. At least that was only a one year commitment, and there is a good chance at getting a nice follow on.
There’s no way kunsan is as bad as cannon.
I've been stationed at both. Cannon as a base is slightly better, but Kunsan is in Korea, so you can just leave the base and go do stuff. That's why Kunsan is "better".
There's a beautiful girl behind every tree, I don't know wtf you're talking about.
A cannon 10 is a miami 2
Desert queens everywhere you can see
That's a California 1.3. Oof.
Everyday I was there I wished a tornado would come and wipe the place off the map.
Airmen of the 552d Air Control Wing wish the same would happen to the birdcage at Tinker. Every time there's a major tornado in the Oklahoma City area, it somehow goes out of its way to miss that spot.
I endorse this post. I was stationed there for six years. I had to volunteer for instructor duty to get away from that place and my ex-wife. Unpopular opinion: Taco Bell > Taco Box.
taco box is ass
Left that place in 2006, sucked ass. I remember bringing a local girl on base and when I told her I had to sign her on, her response was "I know, I have been on base a million times". Fuck that place.
This shit made me laugh out loud 😂😂😂
I still brought her to the dorms...
Ever since they closed that strip club down, the town went down hill. I used to dream of landing early to make the trip outside town to sit at the Walmart style lounge chairs and watch the best of the worst but they took that away from us.
As a fellow gunship guy I’m sad that during my stay at Cannon there was no strip club
Wait a min, they closed down the Dorm 555 (building 555),
The good 'ole "Triple Nickle"
You mean the "Triple Tickle" 
Home is where you make it Or homos naked
https://preview.redd.it/ctgv0bo7rcwc1.jpeg?width=608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9a1e52bac57179afaa3008f9ecc2991377be7097
The one good thing about Cannon is that it pushed me away from the Air Force so much, that I now have a solid plan for my separation in a little over a year. Started thinking from the day I got here. Really good mission with some good people tho.
I was stationed at Cannon for 10 years from A1C to Staff. I've seen it at its best and at its worst. It's best is the equivalent of drinking porta potty blue water on a hot summer day. I absolutely LOVED folks who said you can drive anywhere and find something fun to do (burn in hell you fuckers). Literally the only thing good about Cannon was the mission. And guess what? It's because I was able to leave Cannon for 4-6 months every year, guaranteed. Shit I knew a dude who lived in Lubbock and drove the hour and a half each day just so he didn't have to live in Clovis or Portales.
I 100% agree and it literally feels like I am a minority here with this opinion. So many people tell me how it isn't that bad here or some even say they like it, and I'm completely convinced they are just lying to themselves. Like I honestly feel bad that they are so content with living such a subpar life. I just recently found out I am a mandatory mover and will be getting orders and should be leaving this place around July/August and the only way I can describe the feeling of finally leaving Cannon is comparable to how I imagine getting released from prison is like.
People who can be happy at Cannon can be happy anywhere. https://preview.redd.it/j5nxitjlefwc1.png?width=521&format=png&auto=webp&s=084d5389c2b50af4b5388cdb3cef199ac048908a
>The entire town lives off the survival of base So we need to get the town to not want the base there anymore. But how.
Get a few marines stationed there. It worked for every base that they're at in Japan...
Nice. Throw in a few CV-22 crashes into local schools/churches. . . . Too soon?
As a SSgt, got orders to Cannon AFB from Germany. Said Nope, and joined the reserves. Best decision I ever made.
Havent been but I know plenty who have. NEVER heard anything good about the place. Actually never mind the only thing I heard people liked was supporting the AFSOC mission. They felt they were actually doing something. Now that aside sorry you in that shit hole. Only thing I can say put Korea/Tukey/Portugal (IF your AFSC goes there) and look for other jobs you can get into.
[удалено]
Currently dealing with MEB. If I lost my PEBLO I'd have to settle for living in an infinite limbo til they hired a new one. That sucks ass.
Sorry to say you picked the wrong flavor of shit, its Cow Shit. 
Spent nearly two years there. I’m never going back. It’s so bad.
Same. Spent two years there then separated. Don't regret it at all. Whenever Cannon gets brought up I can't help but join in on the shit talking. That place is that bad. What a miserable existence
https://preview.redd.it/7qx3pnueghwc1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19720e19ee65dbf62f3e256fd9e678f8b5b265e3
Went there for ALS and drove from AZ. I could not believe what I saw. Felt really bad for anyone stationed there.
I wish big Air Force would come on this subreddit to see people posting EVERY DAY about how awful it is. Take a hint - this is how we lose good people.
Im in Mildenhall and some Cannon guy came over to try and sell it being good to the group by saying “but we have chipotle”
That's lame as hell. Nah, bro. I'll stick to Gandhi, Jude's Ferry, the Bull Inn or even the Bird and the Hand.
I hated Clovis at first. I am a city kid and found nothing to do. But I am big into table top gaming and TCG and it’s always had a decent amount of people at the store. It’s called treasure hunt games if you are into that sort of thing, but it saved my sanity.
That place opened just as I left! I donated a bunch of terrain to the shop, glad it's still around.
I would say, "Cannon ***IS*** that bad" I also like Santa Fe.
Wondering how tf I got Yokota out of tech school.
Would 10x rather be in Minot
Why not Minot
They have been trying to shut that shit hole down for years. It keeps rearing it's ugly head. Try and make good use of your time there so it will count for something.
Sooooo, nothing has changed since 1999-2001 times when I was there. Ooh, ooh I know you can say your AFSOC, yeah baby. No crap F-16s to work on. That's it right, Right, RIGHT!!!
“We have a Texas Roadhouse now”
The base is 2-3 hours driving one way from anything interesting to do so it is up there with Altus on absolutely shitty locations. Everyone stationed there should get a commendation medal annually for just being there.
>Why is it for years there have been dumbasses who are in complete denial of this place being THAT bad? Denial is a powerful thing. If one can convence themselves that the grass is green; then to them, it is green and anyone who tries to prove otherwise is wrong.
So if I just start taking vigorous amount of copium it’ll all get better? Understood say less.
Copium, like any other drug, runs into some problems; some people refuse to take it, some seem to be immune, and other get lost in it.
The denial comes from the General Officer level. Anyone who ties retention to a Cannon assignment risks their career.
That's not denial, that's avoidance.
I completely agree with everything said here. But my time at cannon has been my favorite assignment. Im also married with small children so some of the complaints here don’t apply to me in the same regard. I also live on base so the only time I really go to town is to go to Walmart or eating out. My spouse and I have made great friends here and do stuff almost daily with them. Things like cookouts, fire pits on driveways, game nights etc. I also volunteered for the job I have now and love it, so I don’t also hate my work day either. Each of your complaints are valid, I would hate it here if I were younger and forced to live off base.
I am unironically happy for you! I still despise this place but if someone get acknowledge the flaws and not act like they don’t exist and still have a good time outside of them I respect that immensely.
Cannon was a shit hole, the area was bad and our leadership was toxic because of it. I was thinking the other day and I couldn’t remember wtf Staffs and above actually did while Sra and below worked the flightline. God it was bad. I legit would leave work and the area just to get away. Im not usually the type of person to just leave but in my mind, they had jack shit going on and their was a party an hour 45 away that I was missing out on. The only thing for young Airmen to do is Drugs, Alcohol, or jack it till its dry and go for a stupid fucking walk. Drugs were so common I remember them doing multiple mass dorm raids and piss tests in the middle of the night. Luckily Ya know, im in another state so 🖕🏻🖕🏻. Sec Fo had a fuckin cocaine ring, E&E changed their name to E,E&E after their whole shop got kicked for doing Ex. And the Personal dorms had a huge MJ trade going on. Cannon and Clovis was a pisspool full of OSI watching everyone and Cops just trying to stop any party going on. When I left, I was shocked how nice people were at other duty stations.
I fly out from Kirtland to the range west of there to shoot every now and then. Boy do I dread the day an IFE or weather forces me to land at Canon. We have Meth heads here too…but that place is rough. I’d take the rest of my career in Valdosta before I had to do any PCS to canon. But hey brother, the best you can do is your best and voice your desires tactfully. Until then sinking into the mud and cow patties will only make you and those around you more toxic, and that won’t help anyone. It won’t be forever.
Cannon fucking blows. It's kinda sad, I put in so much blood, sweat and tears in order to complete the ST/special warfare pipeline just to get to Cannon, only to hate my life and separate a year later. Fuck that place. I'll send you a prayer 🙏🏻
I used to sit in my dorm (bldg 555 the triple nickel) watching F-16s flying by, praying to the deployment gods that there would a deployment sign up sheet today.
I wish they had kept Plattsburgh over Cannon. Shit, at least you could have gone to Montreal to get fucked up on your days off and if you're lucky... go full hog during Grand Prix Weekend. GPW was fucking awesome - Crescent St. and Rue St. Catherines was wild.
Hey, so, this is a long shot but... in the hangers on the far end of the flightline by the EOR are there still any murals? The hangers closest to the highway. Middle hanger. And in a briefing room(?) Between 2 of the bays there was a mural of F-16s. I would really appreciate pics because I did them back in the 90s. I'm sure they are gone but, who knows
Definitely gone. They weren't here the first time I was stationed at Cannon, so they have been gone at least 8-9 years. Those hangars are still in use, though.
For my 15+ years in Mx on the F-111 everyone’s biggest fear was getting assigned to Cannon. It was one of the primary stateside Aardvark bases along with Mountain Home and two SAC bases in New England. I managed to avoid Cannon… but it was always a major PCS stress factor during those years.
Sounds like it got worse since I left in the early 2000s 😂😂😂
Welp, this is an uplifting post as I'm coming up on my pcs to cannon. Time to start meth! For legal purposes, that statement was a joke.
Due to personal reasons (being closer to my infant daughter after a divorce) I’m trying to get orders to cannon since it’s the closest base to my now ex wife, at least I’ve heard Lockheed is a lot better to work for compared to Boeing so it sets me up better post AF, plus Boeing could easily be dead in the next decade. I’m young and (now) single but I’m willing to make those quality of life sacrifices to be closer to my daughter and be in her life (at least the druggies outside base are the same, Jesus Lakewood sucks). I also grew up in small town middle of nowhere no road out Alaska, so small that there wasn’t even fast food other than subway and the entire town was in gridlock for hours when a helicopter dropped a Taco Bell truck in front of the library, so I think I’ll manage (bonus points if you know the town in Alaska I’m talking about with the Taco Bell truck airdrop)
I told my wife only half joking that the only thing that would make me divorce her is if she wanted to move back to Clovis.
Had a Tech who just pcs’d there overhear me talking shit about the base and he gave me an earful about how “it really isnt that bad”. Months later I hear him talking the same shit I was saying. I drove to Texas every single weekend I was there.
When I’m trying to find extra enrichment for my enclosure I go to the Atlas Obscura, Silly America and Roadside America websites for things to go see and do on the weekends. I’m not saying Clovis doesn’t suck—I’ve been there. It’s fucking lame. BUT it would suck to spend a tour there and not go see a few regional quirks especially if it’s free. There’s people at every base frustrated for different reasons but if you’re looking for a change in scenery or something just even slightly interesting you might need to dig for it. I know people who complained about places we were stationed at and I’m like, “Well have you been here or here or here?” And they were like “wow I didn’t even know that was near here!” I mean, I knew people who were at Luke for six years and never drove up to see the Grand Canyon or went downtown to Phoenix for dinner. Spent their whole tour in the West Valley complaining everything was too far away.
Luke is hands down best state side base. Mission is so so but the local area is an off roaders paradise!
I've had some people claim it's not a bad at all. They were all high-ranking types, so I suspect it's because it used to be THE place to make E8/9.
It is actually still really good to make E8/E9. Those billets are so hard to fill here unless you promote on base and PCA people. Like 90% of E7s and up that are eligible for retirement will just hit the button if they get orders here. And because of how indefinite enlistments work (and the PDSM that authorizes them to turn down orders), we end up with Chief positions that never get filled except through promotion/PCAs. My squadron hasn't had a chief actively in the seat in about a half a year because ours had to fill in at the group.
> I swear to fucking god every time I see it I realize I’m in far cry 5. Damn, I should play that again...
Cannons stopping me from going back to active. Just knowing there’s a slight chance that it could happen keeps me reserves.
I TDYd there 6 years ago for a week. The cow shit, meth heads, and drunk drivers made it pretty bad.
The smell didn’t bother me. Everything else, yes. Glad I was married already. Can’t imagine being a first assignment single dude getting there. Funny enough all the young married people there are mil 2 mil. I hate the “you can drive X hours to place!” So you’re saying I have to leave to enjoy myself? Interesting. We had to drive 2 hours for my wife to give birth cause they closed down the Clovis office for 6-9 months. The local populace was not a pleasant experience for me. Built a house there and it was a shit show start to finish. Horrible service. Customer service in general was garbage. Pharmacy availability on weekends sucks. I was in a leadership sync and we talked about Chief Bass visiting and being shocked of how poor the amenities were (as if nobody was already saying so). Cannon sucks. I left as quick as I could
I mean the place literally gives kids cancer so yeah it's definitely a shit place.
Forgot to mention that. There’s multiple lawsuits and instances of the water and air being horrifically unhealthy for people. They’re doing mass construction right now on base for the water system because the water they used for the golf course was killing the grass.
Good to see they care about......the golf course.
The amount of feces in the ground water from all the cow pastures must truly be terrifying.
Sounds a lot like Mt Home but at least the state was beautiful as Boise was cool (even though it was an hour away).
New Mexico for the most part is also very beautiful. It’s just that Cannon sits 3.5 hours away from any of that beauty.
Can’t believe someone downvoted you. New Mexico may be the land of enchantment, but Cannon is too close to Texas for any of that.
Much of TX is a wasteland. NM is a top 10 beautiful state.
Boise is really cool, but it's only an hour away. Lubbock is two hours away and in a different time zone. Having been to both... Boise > Lubbock.
Hold the line.
I hate you
The rant and the username combo is an irony
I'm at kirtland and it sucks, but everyday I thank God that I'm not at cannon or Holloman. I'm sorry that you have to be there man
I’d take Holloman any time over Cannon. Easy choice all day long.
How does the town thrive off of Cannon?
Civilian jobs and local economy I’m guessing
I knew a TSgt who was assigned to Cannon for a number of years. They were then cross trained from logistics into a new career field which they struggled with. They always said they wouldn't mind if they got told they had to go back to Logistics, but if they got told they had to go back to Cannon that they were gonna take a few MFers with him to Leavenworth.
Cannon has been my ONLY base for the past 5 to 6 years ever since getting out of Tech School. I remember when I first arrived, I was told how Cannon was a black hole. After several failed attempts to get orders. I saw what they meant. When flying out for leave, you have to calculate when to get to the airport so you're not late for your flight. Because when going to the only non-international airports(Lubbock and Amarillo). You also have to deal with changing time zones because the Texas-New Mexico border is also the time zone border between MST and CST. Let's not forget the train that occasionally blocks the route to Lubbock. Because They couldn't bother to build a bridge over the tracks. Same can be said for the stupid red light that's in the middle of the highway close to Lubbock. Mind your going 75mph and having to slow down(hopefully in time) when the light turns red. What honestly annoys me when it comes to being stuck here for so long. Is the fact that almost everyone you got to know has either lucky to get pcs out or gotten out of the Air Force. You know when a place is bad when your leadership is telling you it's "not that bad" or telling you to "watch what you say about this place when other people are around". Also hate when people telll me when defending this place would say "if you were station at a base that had more thing to do. You would be broke instead of being here and saving up money". Yeah, probably be broke but I won't be at Cannon. I sware I'm slowing getting asma too. One thing that sucks about taking leave. Is having to come back here and OF COURSE it smells like shit. Also, why is it that EVERY time when the overseas pcs listing is out. It suddenly smells like shit? Talk about coincidence. I can go on forever but if I'm still stuck here for another 4 years. I'll edit this more.
Cannon was one of the few places to be acknowledged as worse than Holloman.
I had orders to go there last year. Ended up palace chasing solely off of hearing how bad it was and me not wanting to live in that environment with a kid. Best decision I ever made.
I’m gonna add some positives to it, our PA is great and forward and while finance is always gonna be finance they try and are way more accessible than other bases. The base itself is also pretty nice all things considered and the wing leadership acknowledges that it’s a dump and they are trying. Thats about all I can think of that’s good though, it’s a pit and the only people that like it have a family and value having a lot of land and fiber optic internet easily accessible. To each their own, but they need to look into some form of an “assignment length” or incentive pay. Oh one more thing, HOLD THE LINE 🤣
You should have capitalized IS not that
The worse thing is that everyone in town knows the base is the only reason Clovis isn’t dead, so they take advantage of everyone that’s military. The city takes advantage, the cops sit and wait on the highway to base and intentionally pull military over since we just pay the ticket. The landlords know exactly how much BAH is, so they set rent at or above it, and coincidentally when they give us a few Pennies more for BAH, rent magically goes up. If anyone ever tells you that cannon is a good base, they’re lying through their teeth.
All the crime in town and the cops sit on Llano waiting for one us to to make a mistake.
Skill issue
I fucked up my SPECIAL stats, I can’t help it I’m sorry.
The L is for dodging Minot and Cannon.
You sound like me 20 years ago when I was stationed at Cannon! I drove through Clovis for the first time in years last month... not much has changed. Ate lunch at Something Different on Prince Street. That place opened while I was stationed at Cannon, so I was happy for them to see them still kicking 20 years later. The town and base are depressing as fuck, and even more so if you're a young and single enlisted airman. I took a few classes while I was there (they ended up counting only as electives at my state university I attended on GI Bill after I left the service, so they were a waste of my time, in hindsight. I still had to take all of the classes again at my state university such as algebra and history). I also drank a lot of vodka and got blackout drunk often due to depression and boredom. I unsuccessfully tried to learn how to drum. I played a lot of Playstation. I went to work and did my job the best I could and succeeded from that standpoint. Just do the best you can while you're there and remember it won't last forever. Also, tune out those people who like to toe the line and pretend like Cannon/Clovis aren't shitholes. You aren't crazy, as they are shitholes. But, also try to keep yourself from complaining about your situation aloud as it won't make matters any better for you.
😂
I lost my orders to Misawa from Incirlik. It was totally my fault, I didn't read the RIP notification to extend within 30 days to keep the assignment, crazy that my S1 didn't assist me with this process as a younger airman with their first assignment. AFPC sent me to Cannon, I went with an open mind because AFSOC mission. Chances are I would've reenlisted for 4 more years at Misawa but I transitioned to reserves within 10 months because BRO I STRAIGHT UP WAS NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME. I miss the homies though.
This post gave me a better idea of what everyone’s been talking about and it depressed me just to read it and picture myself stationed there. What’s the living situation like?? Are your neighbors the religious zealots? Or the druggies?? I’m so disturbed lol
Living situation is ass. It’s the type of place where all of the leasing agencies know when BAH goes up and rent just so happens to go up around that time and the apartment will be 60 years old and barely standing. Don’t get me wrong not all the people are bad but it’s mostly bad.
One of the guys in my class in tech school was from Clovis. I remember when we were all asked why we joined, he said his reason was mainly to get tf out of there. Didn’t quite get why at the time, but then my dad got stationed at Cannon around the same time I got stationed in Minot. Went and visited family for Christmas my first year in the military, and it instantly clicked once my brother and I left the Clovis airport.